West U Pool To Close For Seven Months, Refunds Offered

The City of West University Place is offering refunds to users of the Colonial Park pool, as the city embarks on an ambitious construction schedule to rebuild one pool and add another to Rec Center.

Colonial Park Pool will close for the last time at 10 p.m. on Labor Day, Monday, September 7. Construction is scheduled to start at 8 a.m. the next day, with plans for a grand opening on Memorial Day weekend, 2010.

Colonial Pool Will Close 10 p.m. Labor Day

West U City Manager Michael Ross said Monday that he’s confident that a new indoor swimming pool will be finished at the West U Rec Center by March.

“We will be without a pool in the city from Labor Day through March of 2010, but it is one of those (times) the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few,” Ross said. “This way get a (next) summer with Colonial Pool.”

In a recent “development letter” to West U residents, city staff said West U is “taking every possible measure to minimize the disruption to our immediate neighbor’s quality of As with any new construction, there will be noise and heavy equipment traffic associated with this project.”

Ross said that the contractors for the project have “built some contingency into their schedule” for the possible delays.

“They are comfortable telling us they will deliver by Memorial Day,” Ross said.

And, progress at the new Rec Center on Bellaire Boulevard, Ross said, “has been remarkable.”

“It is really coming along,” Ross said.

The city is offering pro-rated refunds to West U families who have memberships at Colonial Pool.

West U Kids Enjoy Last Days At Pool

In the meantime, parks and rec staff have advised West U residents about facilities and programs offered by the Weekly Family YMCA, the University of Texas Health Science Center, at Rice University and the city of Bellaire.

The new recreational facilities are being built with bonds that were approved by voters last year.